DIVERSITY AT WESTMONT COLLEGE
Westmont strives to be a community informed and enriched by thoughtful and intentional study of and interaction with multiple cultures. As a liberal arts college rooted in Christ, we celebrate diversity as an aspect of God’s creation; we strive to create community out of rich diversity as an aspect of building God’s Kingdom in the world; we value the range of perspectives on the world that stimulates intellectual and personal growth; and we seek for faculty and staff to apprentice students in the art of dealing with diversity in constructive ways. It is an aim of Westmont to prepare graduates who will function intelligently, effectively and for the good of our increasingly intercultural world.
STATEMENT ADOPTED ON BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF DIVERSITY
The Board of Trustees approved on May 6, 2011 an institutional statement on the Biblical and Theological Foundations of Diversity. The statement is the result of work by a presidential task force chaired by Acting Provost Rick Pointer. Members of the task force were: Gayle Beebe, Alister Chapman, Bob Gundry, Maurice Lee, Tremper Longman, Eileen McMahon, Rick Pointer, Helen Rhee, Randy VanderMey, Telford Work and Elena Yee. The task force's work was aided by input from faculty, staff, and trustees who commented on draft statements over the last two years.
ACROSS CULTURES
Westmont College's Commitment to Diversity
Westmont’s 1995 Long Range Plan included eight priorities. One was “that the Westmont community be creatively and energetically responding to the significant issues related to diversity – including both ethnic and gender diversity.” But why? Here are relevant excerpts from the Long Range Plan. more
What “Diversity” Means to Westmont
At its October meetings, the Board of Trustees approved a statement of key terms and identity. This culminated a lengthy campus effort spearheaded by the Mission and Distinctiveness Task Force and the Strategic Planning Committee to define what Westmont means by “evangelical,” “liberal arts,” and “diversity.”
According to this statement, “To the extent the college becomes more fully evangelical, more steeped in the liberal arts and more richly diverse, it will be more ‘Westmont.’ To understand these terms better, then, is to comprehend the college’s community and task more truly.” Included below is the section on “diversity.” more
Global Initiatives Task Force
A new task force is charged with developing a vision and a plan for expanding Westmont’s current off campus programs to position us better to provide a truly global education for our students. The expanded off-campus programs task force envisions will be focused on general education.
The Global Initiatives Task Force is headed by Acting Provost Rick Pointer. Members are professors Mary Docter, Charles Farhadian, Bruce Fisk, Laura Montgomery, and Jeff Schloss; administrators Doug Jones, Joyce Luy, Reed Sheard, and Bill Wright; and trustee Robert Kates.
To date, the group has been developing a set of student learning outcomes for those who participate on study abroad programs, discussing the criteria to be used in selecting a possible site for a new program, and brainstorming about issues that must be addressed as new programs are developed. The task force’s work will contribute to expanding programs that enhance student cross-cultural sensibilities and communication skills, as well as greater appreciation for other cultures and their people.
Student Leadership
Every student leader engages in a year long leadership program. Part of that training is a focus on diversity and global awareness. Weaving those important issues in and through our student leadership gatherings, our commitment to our student leaders is to foster and create thoughtful leaders, grateful servants, and faithful leaders for global engagement with diverse people. As we delve into issues of leadership, we also explore complex identities as part of the self-awareness that creates great leadership. more
Diversity Committee Fall 2011
| Chair: | Chris Call |
| Members: | Kathyrn Stelmach Artuso |
| Toya Cooper | |
| Mary Docter | |
| Jane Higa | |
| Omedi Ochieng | |
| Rick Pointer | |
| Silvio Vazquez | |
Intercultural Programs
Many different threads need to come together in order to form a beautiful tapestry of color and textures. Our goal at Westmont College is to create an environment in which Christ's kingdom is woven together and wonderfully displayed right on our campus.
Learn more about Intercultural Programs at Westmont
Westmont 2005-2006 Annual Report on Diversity
Ethnic/International Student Enrollment Report
Fall semester 2011
| GROUP | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Native American/Alaskan | 33 | 30 | 33 | 31 | 20 | 21 |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 91 | 122 | 135 | 121 | 92 | 80 |
| Black | 28 | 30 | 32 | 35 | 23 | 18 |
| Hispanic | 129 | 132 | 143 | 145 | 163 | 165 |
| Non-Resident Alien | 10 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 |
| TOTAL | 291 | 323 | 354 | 342 | 355 | 371 |
| College enrollment | 1337 | 1340 | 1347 | 1312 | 1367 | 1344 |
| % of Total Enrollment | 21.8% | 24.1% | 26.3% | 26.1% | 26.0% | 27.6% |
Enrollment by Ethnicity and Gender
Fall semester 2011
| ALL STUDENTS | MEN | WOMEN | TOTAL |
| First-Year | 135 | 202 | 337 |
| Sophomores | 139 | 247 | 386 |
| Juniors | 118 | 173 | 291 |
| Seniors | 118 | 199 | 317 |
| Consortium Visitors (here) | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Fifth Year (Education) | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Staff & Non-matriculated | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| TOTAL | 513 | 831 | 1344 |
| FULL-TIME STUDENTS | 511 |
824 |
1335 |
| PART-TIME & AUDITING STUDENTS (F.T.E) | 2 (1.7) |
7 (4.2) |
9 (5.9) |
| F.T.E. STUDENTS | 512.7 |
828.2 |
1340.9 |
| MEN/WOMEN RATIO | 38.2% |
61.8% |
New Students
| MEN | WOMEN | TOTAL | |
| First-Year | 121 |
212 |
333 |
| Transfers | 40 |
27 |
67 |
| Fifth Year (Education) | 2 |
2 |
4 |
| Reapplicants | 2 |
2 |
4 |
| Consortium Visitors | 1 |
6 |
7 |
| TOTAL | 166 | 249 | 415 |
Off-Campus Program Students*
| MEN | WOMEN | TOTAL | |
| England Semester | 0 |
0 |
0 |
| Europe Semester | 16 |
27 |
43 |
| Mexico Semester | 5 |
10 |
15 |
| Urban Semester | 3 |
21 |
24 |
Urban (Westmont registration) |
3 |
19 |
|
Urban (from Gordon) |
0 |
2 |
|
| All other domestic & international programs | 9 |
18 |
27 |
| TOTAL | 33 | 76 | 109 |
* Off-Campus Program Students are included in the "All Students" enrollment numbers.
Staff Demographics
For 2009-2010
Job Classification and Race, Full-time and Part-time Staff
| White | Non-Majority | |
| Service Maintenance | 28.9% |
71.1% |
| Skilled Crafts | 53.8% |
46.2% |
| Clerical | 72.9% |
27.1% |
| Technical & Paraprofessional | 100% |
|
Other Professionals |
86.5% |
13.5% |
| Executive & Administrative | 88.5% |
11.5% |
Job Classification and Gender, Full-time and Part-time Staff
| Men | Women | |
| Service Maintenance | 63.2% |
36.8% |
| Skilled Crafts | 92.3% |
7.7% |
| Clerical | 13.6% |
86.4% |
| Technical & Paraprofessional | 66.7% |
33.3% |
Other Professionals |
43.2% |
56.8% |
| Executive & Administrative | 55.8% |
44.2% |